Louis Van Gaal's Entrance An Opportunity For Jesse Lindgard?

Over 20 years ago (1991 precisely) a certain young Dutch manager took over the affairs at Amsterdam popular club side Ajax and in the following 6 years the manager Louis Van Gaal went on to mould one of the century finest team winning 3 Dutch titles, 3 European Cups, Intercontinental Cup and went un-beaten in all competition for a whole season. Van Gaal a proponent of Total football philosophy achieved all that relying on the sweat of young talented footballers like Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert and Kanu Nwankwo amongst a host of others. Success at Amsterdam perhaps played a critical role in his continued trust and reliance on young players as he went on to achieve great things years later at Barcelona, AZ- Akamaar and Bayern Munich all adhering to youth and Total Football.

As the new Man United manager his antecedent might spell hope for the young lads of the team particularly Jesse Lindgard, Micheal Keane and even Adnan Januzaj. What is certain is Van Gaal will once again play Total Footballat old Trafford the uncertainty is if he will once again rely on young lads to achieve that; principally a domino effect of the poor season United just had and his own short term ‘fix it’ job of 3 years.

Jesse Lindgard in particular has shown great promise having gone on loan to a number of clubs and doing exceptionally well in his attacking midfield role. Alongside Adnan Januzaj they were the brightest of all United players that went on the 2013/2014 pre- season tour of Asia and America under former manager David Moyes. And these young lads did shine like a million stars.

At 21 years of age, Lingard a graduate of the United football academy though not the finished article yet, he seems to have what it takes to compete at the highest level and without an iota of doubt Lingard will walk into the first 11 of some EPL teams. Van Gaal has a tough call to make as regards this young youth international, whether would he or would he not replicate the Ajax and Bayern Munich  approach is left to be seen, but what is clear is United must not make the Paul Pogba error again or possibly the quest to quickly return United back to winning might make him go the way of the ‘Noisy Neighbours’.